New testing for infants at birth

7:19 AM,
Aug. 3, 2013

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The Ohio Department of Health has added severe combined immunodeficiency disorder to the list of diseases that all newborns in Ohio are screened for at birth. The ODH laboratory began screening for SCID on July 29, using the same newborn screening specimens already collected to test for 35 other rare disorders.

"The new screening item helps move Ohio forward in our fight against infant mortality," said Dr. Ted Wymyslo, Director of the Ohio Department of Health. "More than 1,000 babies die before their first birthday in Ohio. By detecting SCID early, we can help our state's infants have a ...